SKATEBOARDING AMENITIES STRATEGY 2011 - The City of Calgary

85 Pages·2011·6.41 MB·English

THE CITY OF CALGARY
SKATEBOARDING
AMENITIES STRATEGY 2011
van der Zalm + associates
Landscape Architecture | Urban Design | Parks & Recreation
TABLE OF FIGURES TABLE OF IMAGES
1. Timeline - Brief History of Skateboarding 1. Transition/Bowl
2. Table of Calgary’s Indoor Skateparks 2. Freestyle
3. Online Survey Question 5 3. Street
4. Online Survey Question 6 4. Park/Obstacle
5. Online Survey Question 9 5. Downhill
6. National Grade Chart - AHKC 6. Longboarding
7. Recreation For Life Service Approach 7. Skatopia1
8. Skatepark Area Comparison Table 8. Discussion Paper on Skateboard Amenities (2011)
9. Skatepark Allocation Comparison Table 9. 2011 Online Survey Promotional Card
10. Alberta Recreation Survey, 2008. 10. Ben Renton at Airdrie’s Skatepark
11. Skatepark Terrain Calculation Diagram 11. Mayia Weatherstone at Canmore’s Skatepark
12. Skateboarder Space Need Calculation 12. The Edge Skatepark, Winnipeg
13. Skate Spot 13. Fantasy Factory Skatepark
14. Neighbourhood Skatepark
15. Community Skatepark
16. Quadrant/Regional Skatepark
17. City-Wide/Destination Skatepark
18. Network Diagram - Option A
19. Network Diagram - Option B
20. Network Diagram - Option C
21. Network Diagram - Option D
22. Network Option Rating Chart
23. Site Amenities Table
24. Site Selection Options
25. Concept-to-Construction Flowchart
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7
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SECTION 1: OVERVIEW 11
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1.1: Introduction to this Strategy
1.2: Introduction to Skateboarding
1.3: Background
SECTION 2: PAST INVESTIGATIONS IN SKATEBOARDING AMENITIES 17
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2.1: Review of ‘A Discussion Paper On Skateboard Amenities’ (2010)
2.2: Discussion of Online Survey Results
SECTION 3: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS STRATEGY 23
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SECTION 4: ESTABLISHING THE NEED 26
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4.1: Importance of Unstructured Play
4.2: Policy Review and Guiding Documents
4.3: A Comparison of Calgary to other Western Canadian Cities
4.4: Calculating the Population and Terrain Needs of Skateboarders in Calgary
4.5: Existing Skateboarding Facilities in Calgary
SECTION 5: ESTABLISHING A NETWORK OF SKATEBOARDING AMENITIES 41
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5.1: Justification
5.2: What are the Fundamentals of a Network?
5.3: Skatepark Typologies
5.4: Network Options
5.5: Site Selection Criteria
5.6: Site Amenities
SECTION 6: IMPLEMENTATION 66
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6.1: Funding
6.2: Implementation
6.3: Skatepark Development Model
6.4: Recommendations
SECTION 7: APPENDICES 74
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7.1: Municipal Skatepark Development ‘Best Practices’
7.3: Sustainable Design and Construction Practices
7.4: Concrete vs. Modular
BIBLIOGRAPHY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks are extended to the dedicated people who have contributed to the creation of this document.
First and foremost, thanks go to those members of the skateboarding community in Calgary that have worked
tirelessly to bring skateboarding to the attention of decision-makers, and raise awareness amongst the general
population. This thanks is directed particularly to the Calgary Association of Skateboarding Enthusiasts (CASE)
who have organized the skateboarding community, held numerous events, contributed to policy discussions
and continue to improve the profile of skateboarding.
Thank you to members of City Council and to senior staff within Community Services and Protective Services,
Planning, and Engineering.
Recognition of the significance of skateboarding within the recreation spectrum of the city is the most
important step towards accommodating current and future recreation needs of all citizens. Special thanks to
the members of the Skateboarding Amenities Strategy steering committee:
Shelley Shea - Manager, Arenas/Athletic Parks and Sport Development
Ray Peltier - Superintendent Sport Development
Vivian Cantin - Project Coordinator, Arena/Athletic Parks & Sport Development Division
Devin Purdy - Recreation Program Specialist Skateparks and Sport
Georgina Stone - Business Market Research Assistant, Recreation
Hayden Kowell - Coordinator Sport Development Services
Jarret Hoebers - Superintendent, Products & Services, VSLC
Judie Drucker - Manager, Neighbourhood Services (West)
Ronald B. Smith – Social Research Planner, Strategic Planning and Policy, Recreation
Ron Buchan - Parks Liaison
Ron Neff - Community Recreation Coordinator
Tracy Luther - Marketing Advisor, Recreation
Zorian Klymochko - Representative, Calgary Association of Skateboarding Enthusiasts (CASE)
Special thanks to Trevor Morgan of New Line Skateparks who provided on the ground data collection and
general information for the preparation of this strategy.
Pro skater Anthony Hancock, 37, formerly of Calgary, hucks a ‘boned-out frontside air’
high over the hip in Millennium Skatepark’s clover bowl. Credit: CASE
6 The City of Calgary
Proudly Serving a Great City
ES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Skateboarding and skateboarders are becoming ever more prevalent within The City of Calgary.
For over 10 years, The City has been a leader amongst Canadian municipalities in accepting the
importance of skateboarding within the recreation spectrum of urban life. Nowhere in Canada has
skateboarding enjoyed such fertile ground through the support of a large, central urban skatepark,
and mobile skate program. In recent years however, facilities have fallen behind the current demand.
This report focuses on the growth of skateboarding in Alberta and Calgary in particular. It looks at
the number of active skateboarders within the City of Calgary and offers options for the creation of
skateboarding amenities throughout the city and within the existing parks network.
In 2010, decision-makers acknowledged a gap in services and commissioned a report. City of Calgary
staff in collaboration with the Calgary Association of Skateboarding Enthusiasts (CASE) prepared
report CPS2011-03 titled ‘A Discussion Paper On Skateboard Amenities’ (2011) that identified a
number of guiding priorities for the development of a Skateboard Amenities Strategy. On January
24, 2011, Council approved recommendations contained in the CPS2011-03 in an omnibus motion
and directed administration to engage with community stakeholders, develop a comprehensive
Skateboard Amenities Strategy, and report back no later than December, 2011. The City of Calgary
then commissioned van der Zalm + associates to develop the strategy document that would provide
a guideline for Calgary’s skateboarding community moving forward. The preparations were guided
by a steering committee composed of recreational professionals and a member of CASE. The result
is a strategy dubbed “The Calgary Skateboard Amenities Strategy” or “CSAS “, which provides a
strategy for meeting the needs of Calgary skateboarders; now and over the next 10 years.
Section 1 is an introduction to Skateboarding and a review of the history of Skateboarding in Calgary.
Section 2 reviews ‘A Discussion Paper On Skateboard Amenities’ (2011) (DPSA), which provided the
priorities from which this strategy is based. It also examines the results of the recent ‘Online Skate-
park Survey’ (2011). The survey, completed by 1080 respondents largely reinforced the priorities set
out in the DPSA, such as the need for varied skatepark sizes that are dispersed across the city and
serve a variety of skill levels and user groups. The survey results also served to inform the CSAS.
Section 3 outlines the goals and objectives of the CSAS, which are: 1. Review Existing Conditions; 2.
Confirm and Quantify the need for facilities; 3. Design a Network Framework for Skatepark Develop-
ment; and 4. Create a Toolbox for Staff Implementation.
Section 4 discusses the need for a greater allocation of resources for skateboard amenities. It begins
by summarizing the qualitative benefits of skateboarding as it relates to health, wellness and per-
sonal development. This is followed with a review of national, provincial and municipal health and
recreation policy. Lastly, a comparison is made between the existing skateboard amenities of Calgary
and other Western Canadian cities.
van der Zalm + associates 7
Landscape Architecture | Urban Design | Parks & Recreation
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Section 4 also outlines the methodology used to determine the skateboard terrain needed to provide safe op-
portunities for the current and future skateboarders in Calgary. Using a methodology developed by a Portland
think-tank, Skateboarders for Public Skateparks (SPS) and through van der Zalm + associates’ extensive experi-
ence, it is determined that the city should accommodate 2,150 concurrently active skateboarders. Based on
the current number of skateboarders, and factoring in future population growth, it is estimated that an ad-
ditional 25,791m2 or 277,607ft2 of skateboard terrain is required (see Figure 11 - Skatepark Terrain Calculation
Diagram).
Section 5 introduces the rational for the development of a skatepark network, explains the fundamentals of
the network, and presents and evaluates four conceptual network options for The City of Calgary.
To provide skateboarding amenities in close proximity to the user group, a network of opportunities should
be explored. This network should ideally address a range of abilities, ages, and terrain types that reflect
the diversity of user groups. By locating the skateboarding amenities within the existing parks system, it
provides available land linked by well connected pathway networks. Greater accessibility is a critical aspect
that will facilitate a higher frequency of participation amongst youth, which will lead to more healthy youth
and neighbourhoods.
In order to provide these amenities in a city-wide network , a variety of skatepark typologies is recommended.
Five distinct typologies are offered for consideration within the city’s park system. These typologies from
smallest to largest include: skate spot, neighbourhood skatepark, community skatepark, quadrant/regional
skatepark, and city-wide/destination park. Each one of these parks provides a different scale and opportunity
for Calgary’s skateboarders. Using these typologies, several options were presented to the steering committee
including networks based on mass-transit lines, community level facilities, and neighbourhood pocket parks.
Each network was reviewed using three main criteria: accessibility, inclusivity and feasibility.
These criteria are used in a rating system applied to all network options. Upon review of each network, Option
D: Combination Network (see Figure 21 - Network Diagram - Option D) ranked highest, which was consistent
with feedback from the steering committee and CASE and was therefore selected as the best option for The
City of Calgary. For more information on this network and rating system see Section 5.
Section 6 begins by discussing potential funding options. It then presents alternative processes for site selection
and provides a Skatepark Development Model, which is a four stage process that involves site selection, a
participatory design process, preparation of technical drawings and construction.
Utilizing the concept of a city-wide skateboarding amenities network, a structure for implementation is
necessary. To reinforce the notion of a ‘ network’ it is important to consider development of several skateboard
amenity typologies within the initial roll-out of the plan. The creation of ‘ skate spots’ , neighbourhood parks,
and community parks should be constructed so as to develop the initial infrastructure of an amenities network.
When choosing locations for the initial phase of this network, site criteria have been included to ensure that
parks are located strategically. A more thorough discussion of site criteria is included for consideration in
section 5. This criteria is offered as a guide. Opportunities for development in new Recreation complexes,
parks, or other city-owned land, should be considered when opportunities arise.
8 The City of Calgary
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CALGARY SKATEPARK STRATEGY
ES
In order for these parks to be developed, the funding for construction and design must be considered. Typically,
skatepark developments are funded by the local municipality with supplemental grants from the provincial
and federal governments. Other options for funding include corporate or foundation sponsorship, donations,
and grass roots fundraising. It is important to note that skateparks can be funded from many different sources,
and the funding models given are only general outlines for the City moving forward. Creative fund raising,
cost sharing, and joint ventures may allow for more rapid and resilient development of the skateboarding
amenities network.
Recommendations
The following is a list of recommendations brought forward by the Calgary Skateboard Amenities Strategy.
It should be noted that the CSAS is a “living document” and that all recommendations stated herein are to
be discussed and reviewed by city officials and throughout the public process. This document is intended to
provide the framework for achieving an effective city-wide network for skateboarding amenities.
1. Currently, The City of Calgary is in need of additional skateboarding area to meet the needs of
the skateboarding population. It is recommended that the City develop an additional 22,655m2
(243,860 ft2) to meet the needs of the current skateboarding population. To meet projected needs
of the skateboarding population over the next 10 years, it is estimated that a total of 25,791m2
(277,607ft2) be constructed. See pages 32-33.
2. Develop a skateboard amenity network to complete the needed area. Option D: ‘Combination
Network’ as described in Section 5, is the system that meets the most requirements of the
skateboarding community and steering committee, this option is recommended for the organization
of skateboarding amenities in Calgary. See pages 58-59.
3. Permit other wheeled-sports in the skatepark venues and include these alternate user groups in
the design process. Other wheeled-sport groups include but are not limited to bmx, inline skaters,
scooters, roller skaters and longboarders. See Survey results on pages 20.
4. Find a suitable location for one or more indoor skateparks or wheeled sport facilities to comprise
an area of at least 1,850 m2 (20,000 ft2). An indoor facility may be located in an existing building or
be a purpose built facility that is clustered with a recreation centre. Indoor facilities should serve
both skateboarders, bmx, inline skaters and provide a fitness track for roller skaters. See page 50.
5. Funding options should be explored with the local, provincial, and national government, as well
as, the private sector, non-profits or other community partners in the allocation of funds, grants,
donations and partnerships. See page 66.
6. Further engagement and communications with community, stakeholders, and city departments in-
cluding but not exclusively , planning and building, bylaws , police and risk management to ensure
safe skate parks are built in cooperation with community and are compliant with planning and
building , bylaws , and risk management procedures.
van der Zalm + associates 9
Landscape Architecture | Urban Design | Parks & Recreation
Robson Lemos, formerly of Brazil, 45, grabs a ‘frontside air’ in the deep-end of Millennium Skatepark’s clover bowl.
Credit: CASE
10 The City of Calgary
Proudly Serving a Great City